Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What is the default exec timeout duration on a Cisco device?

1. 5 minutes

2. 30 minutes

3. 10 minutes

4. 1 hour

The correct answer is: 10 minutes

The default exec timeout duration on a Cisco device is indeed 10 minutes. This timeout setting is crucial for maintaining security and resource management on a network device. If a user is inactive for this period, the exec session will automatically disconnect, helping to prevent unauthorized access if the user leaves their session open and unattended. This 10-minute interval is a commonly accepted practice to ensure that network devices are not left open indefinitely, which could be exploited by unauthorized users. Knowing this default setting is essential for network administrators as it impacts how users interact with the device. By understanding and being able to modify this setting, an administrator can better tailor the device's behavior to meet organizational policies regarding user sessions and security protocols. In practical scenarios, if someone wants to change the default timeout duration for their specific needs, they can do so in the device configuration by accessing the line configuration settings and specifying a new timeout value.